BEIJING- The Chinese government on Thursday issued a white paper on the Socialist System of Laws with Chinese Characteristics.

The laws have been labeled as a milestone in the development of China's socialist democratic legal system.

The white paper, released by the State Council Information Office, introduces the establishment, components and features of the socialist system of laws.

According to the white paper, the system is an organic integration of the related laws of the Constitution, civil and commercial laws, administrative laws, economic laws, social laws, criminal laws, litigation and non-litigation procedural laws and other legal branches.

By the end of August 2011, the Chinese legislature had enacted 240 effective laws, including the current Constitution, 706 administrative regulations and over 8,600 local regulations, the white paper says.

Governing China by law and building a socialist country under the rule of law is a fundamental principle for the Communist Party of China, says the white paper.

"A socialist legal system with Chinese characteristics has been solidly put into place," the white paper says. "It is an important milestone in China's development of socialist democracy and the legal system, and showcases the great achievements of reform, opening up and the socialist modernization drive."